Antique Chinese Carved Jade Archaistic Chicken-Heart Shape Pendant. Han Style. Carved On The Edges Are Kylins, The Interior With Scrolling Designs. Cream Color With Brown Inclusions. Finely Carved With Exquisite Details And A Soft Polish And Patina. Ming Dynasty Or Earlier. Approximately 3 1/4" High x 2 1/4" Wide.
Notes:
Ancient prototype: The form ultimately derives from the she (韘), an archery thumb guard.
The “chicken heart” terminology: The name refers to the characteristic heart-like central opening/form.
Ming revival: Ming carvers frequently revived Han and earlier forms as part of the period's taste for archaistic objects.
The decoration can include chi dragons, phoenixes, clouds, and scrolling designs.
Form: The characteristic shape is a flattened, shield/heart-like pendant with a pointed or tapered upper end and a prominent central perforation.
For A Similar Example
Yu Jen Tapei - AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF CHINESE ART FROM HERITAGE MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART, CHICAGO II (Evening Sale) - December 25, 2021
Lot #103
A RARE WHITE JADE 'PHOENIX' PENDANT
WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
L5cm
Provenance
Feng Wen Tang Collection
Private collection of Jeffrey Moy, purchased from Feng Wen Tang in the 1990s
Heritage Museum of Asian Art, Chicago
EXHIBITED
Jades of Han Dynasty, Aurora Museum, 3 May to 9 September, 2006
LITERATURE
Jades of Han Dynasty , Y.T. Chen Foundation, 2005, p. 147, pl. 86 (See Ending Images)
